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DeLand man a suspect in 1992 killing, woman's disappearance

Published: Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 3:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 7:39 p.m.

A DeLand man is the suspect in the killing of a Lakeland rancher found shot to death in his mobile home 21 years ago, a Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Investigators in Polk County now believe they have physical evidence that ties Danny Cerezo to the murder of Lakeland rancher Larry Costine and the disappearance of Costine's girlfriend, Melissa Jo Sermons, said Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood on Friday.

"We need additional information to help put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and it is an investigation we continue to work," Wood said.

Wood would not elaborate on the evidence found but said it came up as investigators continue to follow leads called in about the murder.

Cerezo could not be reached for this story.

Costine was 31 when he was found shot to death May 4, 1992. At first investigators looked at Sermons, then 26, as the person of interest and believed she was the only one who could have gotten close enough to Costine to kill him, Polk County investigators said.

But based on new leads checked out, investigators now believe Sermons, 26, has been missing since she was last seen with Costine on May 3, 1992, and believe Cerezo is tied to her disappearance.

"Melissa Jo Sermons has never been found and is believed to have been murdered as well," Wood said in an email.

Cerezo is now 64 years old and was the former boyfriend of Sermons before she started dating Costine, investigators said.

"Sermons and Cerezo, currently a DeLand resident, had been romantically involved and lived together for about a year prior to May 1992," Wood said. "Sermons ended the relationship in April 1992 and moved out of the residence."

Investigators have learned that Cerezo remained friends with Sermons' family and often inquired about her relationships with other men. Witnesses told Polk County sheriff's investigators that Cerezo was known to confront any man he saw speaking to Sermons, Wood said.

"On Saturday, May 2, 1992, Sermons was overheard on the phone with Cerezo," Wood said. "Sermons told Cerezo she didn't want to see him again and that she was now dating Costine."

Two days later, Costine was found shot to death at his ranch home on Moore Road in Lakeland and his girlfriend, Sermons, has been missing since, investigators said.

The murder was discovered after Polk County investigators received a call from one of Costine's family members who worked with Sermons. When neither Costine nor Sermons arrived for work at their respective job locations, the family member became concerned and went to Costine's home where he found the door unlocked. When deputies arrived at the home May 4, Costine was located dead in a bedroom. He had been shot multiple times in the head and back, investigators said.

Costine and Sermons were last seen the morning of May 3 after attending a rodeo in Dade City, authorities said.

Anyone with additional information on Cerezo and the crime is asked to contact Detective Larry Ashley at 863-298-6200.

<p>A DeLand man is the suspect in the killing of a Lakeland rancher found shot to death in his mobile home 21 years ago, a Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman said. </p><p>Investigators in Polk County now believe they have physical evidence that ties Danny Cerezo to the murder of Lakeland rancher Larry Costine and the disappearance of Costine's girlfriend, Melissa Jo Sermons, said Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood on Friday. </p><p>"We need additional information to help put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and it is an investigation we continue to work," Wood said. </p><p>Wood would not elaborate on the evidence found but said it came up as investigators continue to follow leads called in about the murder. </p><p>Cerezo could not be reached for this story. </p><p>Costine was 31 when he was found shot to death May 4, 1992. At first investigators looked at Sermons, then 26, as the person of interest and believed she was the only one who could have gotten close enough to Costine to kill him, Polk County investigators said. </p><p>But based on new leads checked out, investigators now believe Sermons, 26, has been missing since she was last seen with Costine on May 3, 1992, and believe Cerezo is tied to her disappearance. </p><p>"Melissa Jo Sermons has never been found and is believed to have been murdered as well," Wood said in an email. </p><p>Cerezo is now 64 years old and was the former boyfriend of Sermons before she started dating Costine, investigators said. </p><p>"Sermons and Cerezo, currently a DeLand resident, had been romantically involved and lived together for about a year prior to May 1992," Wood said. "Sermons ended the relationship in April 1992 and moved out of the residence." </p><p>Investigators have learned that Cerezo remained friends with Sermons' family and often inquired about her relationships with other men. Witnesses told Polk County sheriff's investigators that Cerezo was known to confront any man he saw speaking to Sermons, Wood said. </p><p>"On Saturday, May 2, 1992, Sermons was overheard on the phone with Cerezo," Wood said. "Sermons told Cerezo she didn't want to see him again and that she was now dating Costine." </p><p>Two days later, Costine was found shot to death at his ranch home on Moore Road in Lakeland and his girlfriend, Sermons, has been missing since, investigators said. </p><p>Polk County investigators have continuously looked at Costine's case after getting leads, Wood said. </p><p>The homicide was featured on "Unsolved Mysteries" in November 1993. </p><p>The murder was discovered after Polk County investigators received a call from one of Costine's family members who worked with Sermons. When neither Costine nor Sermons arrived for work at their respective job locations, the family member became concerned and went to Costine's home where he found the door unlocked. When deputies arrived at the home May 4, Costine was located dead in a bedroom. He had been shot multiple times in the head and back, investigators said. </p><p>Costine and Sermons were last seen the morning of May 3 after attending a rodeo in Dade City, authorities said. </p><p>Anyone with additional information on Cerezo and the crime is asked to contact Detective Larry Ashley at 863-298-6200.</p>